A great HVAC system is important for your home. A lot of people spend quite a bit to fix things when they don’t work right, but could have avoided such issues if they had maintained them properly. The following article will educate you about proper HVAC systems and tell you how to keep them running efficiently to avoid paying for expensive issues.
If your HVAC is giving you problems, tour your home before calling a technician. Notice the temperature in each room. Are some cooler or hotter than others? This will help your contractor quickly determine where the issue lies and how to get it fixed quickly and easily.
Know the name and type of system you currently have before looking for a repair person. This will enable you to give your chosen contractor any information they need.
Understand what you want before talking to a contractor. A contractor cannot give an accurate estimate without looking at your system. It will be more difficult for him to assist you over the phone without the information readily available. Thus, it is worthwhile to have this knowledge ahead of time.
Trees Start
Keep outside condenser fans running smoothly by cleaning fan blades and coils before the summer begins. Always make sure you shut off the power before you do any work on the unit other than superficial cleaning. Remove leaves and debris from the outside condenser.
Your outdoor HVAC units might suffer when trees start to lose leaves. Make sure the fan’s grill is cleaned often once nearby trees start shedding their leaves. The fan must be unobstructed to work properly, and if it becomes blocked, then your system could suffer.
Make sure that you regularly clean debris that might build up on external condenser units. You never know when things can pile up, especially after a windy or rainy storm, and that can throw a wrench in your system. It may begin to overheat, causing massive damage.
Be sure you have twice annual HVAC system checks. This should be done in the fall and malfunctions.
Avoid showering your outdoor unit with grass clippings when you mow the lawn. Get the grass shot away from your unit. This applies when you are taking care of the leaves in the yard.
A programmable thermostat can help you out when it comes to your power bills. Some can even be controlled from your smart phone or computer.
If your fan condenser has oil ports, you must lubricate it once per year. These ports are often covered by a rubber or metal cap. Put about ten drops or less of a good non-detergent SAE 20 oil into each port.
Never allow the temperature in your home to rise to a dangerously hot temperature. Air conditioners are limited in that they can only reduce the indoor temperature 20 degrees or so within a reasonable time limit. If the temperature in your home rises above 100 degrees, cooling it will only drop the temperature to 80 degrees F. This is not a healthy environment to live in.
It’s a good idea to put your outdoor compressor in a shady area. In this way, it will be cooling air that is already somewhat cooled. This saves energy.
Air conditioners sometimes ice up at times. The drain line might also freeze up.If this is something you notice, disable the compressor by turning your thermostat to the fan only setting. If this doesn’t work, call in help.
Place your HVAC unit in the shade to boost efficiency. When your unit sucks in cooler air, then much less is required to cool it further, which saves you money on energy bills.
Companies that are around awhile have track records that can help you decide if they’re worth your money and time.Hiring a newer contractor means taking a bigger risk.
If at all possible, install double-paned windows in your home instead of those with a single pane. Double pane windows can help minimize how much you use your air conditioner in the summer, because they keep cool air inside the home. Conversely, they keep warm air in during the winter.
Ask for helpful information when you can find a reputable HVAC contractor. People that have had a good experience are often happy to share this information. This can also help you with good information on which contractors you should avoid.
Try to have your HVAC system looked at every year, because regular maintenance will go a long way in energy efficiency. Make sure the person takes a look at the motor and examines the levels of freon. Doing this simple task can ensure that your system will be running for years with no problem!
There are plenty of websites online that let customers share their service experiences. This method of finding contractors that you are interested in dealing with as well as those that you want to avoid.
Did you know an AC unit can freeze? The drain line might also freeze over. When you see ice, turn the unit to fan. Get a professional to deal with this, even if you see the ice start melting because you turned the compressor off.
Contractors are responsible for their own charges and fees, so make sure to get multiple quotes.You can save quite a bit of money by asking for price quotes. You want to call at least five contractors in order to know what reasonable rates are.
Always check to see how long a company or contractor has been working for. Fly-by-night companies are those you want to avoid. It is always risky to hire a contractor with little experience.
Check for duct leaks if your existing system is not be working efficiently. When you get leaks repaired, the testing has paid for itself.
Ask around so you can find a reputable HVAC contractor. People usually love to boast about the wonderful work they have had done, so you should be given great leads to follow. This will also help you avoid scammers.
Determine which way your home faces.The less your home is heated, the less time that the AC has to work.
If you need help locating someone to help take of your HVAC system, a great place to seek advice is online at a review site. There are plenty of websites online that offer reviews and referrals for HVAC repair and other important service. This is an awesome way to find contractors to work with.
If you hear clicking inside your HVAC unit, see if there is any debris in it. Often the issue is some sort of debris hitting fans in your cooling system. Look carefully at it before calling in a technician.
To improve the efficiency of your HVAC system, think about placing a radiant barrier in your attic. This helps block the heat from outside, and will reduce the energy needed for cooling your home during the summer. If done right, you can even start using the attic as living space.
Square Footage
Are you going to buy a new HVAC system? There are some things to consider. System ratings are based on the area that can be cooled and heated effectively by the system. Therefore, you may want to opt for a larger unit.
Measure the living area that requires air conditioner shopping. You generally need 20 BTUs per square footage of room space. If you have multiple rooms to cool, make sure to add the square footage together.
Be sure to test for leaks in the ducts if your system seems inefficient. Call the utility company to test for you, it will usually be cheaper than a contractor. When you repair the leaks, the tests will pay for themselves.
As you read in the preceding article, a well-functioning HVAC system is a vital feature of your home. The suggestions above should help you save money on expensive repairs to your HVAC system. You need to follow them; however, so you aren’t put into the position of having to spend thousands on repairing something that with a little bit of effort should have been prevented.
If there’s a clicking in your HVAC unit, check for any sort of obstructions immediately. Sometimes there is debris that gets in the fan’s way. Simple removal of the debris will solve the problem. Always check for yourself before getting someone out to repair the unit.
